Jamie McDonnell’s advice for twin brother Gavin

Liam Hoden

Jamie McDonnell has some simple advice for twin brother Gavin ahead of his bout in Hull tonight – avoid a scrap.

Gavin McDonnell is set to make a significant step up in class to face Vusi Malinga for the WBA International super bantamweight title at the Ice Arena this evening.

And Malinga is someone his world champion twin knows all about with the South African a one time mandatory contender for the IBF bantamweight title before Jamie was controversially stripped of it a year ago.

Instead, Malinga went on to face Stuart Hall for the vacant strap and lost, adding the Darlington fighter to the names of Leo Santa Cruz and Hozumi Hasegawa whom he has come up short against in world title fights.

“He’s tough, he plods forward,” Jamie told the Star.

“He’s going to be good because he gave Stuey Hall a run for his money and Stuey is a tough man.

“You don’t want to be stood in front of him.

“If our kid hits and moves, thinks about it, he can make it as easy as he wants.

“We thought it’d be an easy fight for me because I can hit and move very well.

“If our kids stands and fights it’ll be a tough night because you could probably hit him with a spade and not shift him.